FINCHforum

I just purchased two new birds, two male RCCB's. One looks perfect and healthy and the other is a little scruffy. He has a few patches around his neck that the feathers look missing, although you cant see all the way down to his skin. It almost makes his head look disproportionately small on his body. There is a spot on the back of his neck, the side and the front. I have considered plucking, iodine deficiency, and stress from shipping. He is eating, drinking, singing, and he seems to get along with his mate. They are currently in quarantine in a separate house from where I live. I am giving them some Thrive to help with the stress from shipping. I am about to space out treatment for worms, air sac mites, and also a treatment of Ronex. Here are a couple of photos. Thoughts?

Oops, sorry for the sideways photo...I hope you can get the idea.

In canaries, missing feathers around the neck are often referred to as a "stuck moult" or being "stuck in the moult". It can be caused by stress, unseasonable lighting or a draft they cannot escape from. Don't know it this applies to other finches as well. For canaries with this problem, a few drops of fresh aloe gel in the water, cucumber and feather-up supplements usually help - as well as correcting the situation that caused it to begin with. Bob

Thanks for the replies! I am keeping them in a pretty stress free place, and I am hoping now that they are done traveling and having the be handled, that the feathers will grow back.